“They were pushing and blocking me from retreat,” Mom said, shaking her head. “I tried to get past them but they were like little monsters. I cried out for one of the moms to help me, but they didn’t hear.”

“No way,” Allegra breathed. “Did you get down?”

“Sure, but not the way I wanted. I got pushed down the waterslide. The biggest one in the park. I ended up in a pool of water in my clothes because I hadn’t worn a bathing suit. I figured I could just watch you without getting wet.”

Allegra gasped. “Where were the supervisors? Didn’t they have any?”

“Let’s just say no one cared to help. When I landed in the pool, one of them informed me I was too old to go down the slide and to please obey the posted rules next time.”

We all burst into laughter. “I never took you to a water park again,” Mom declared. “And I still blame your mother. She never warned me it was a terrible idea.”

“Yes, I did! I said I’d take her on the weekend and not to give in to her begging.”

“Honey, if we had waited, Allegra would never have gone. You worked that weekend again, remember?”

I jerked back at the barb. An awkward silence fell, and Mom cleared her throat, obviously regretting her words. “That’s right. I remember now,” I said coldly. Nothing like my own mother trying to shame me.

She tried to make peace, but we all knew it was too late. “It was a busy time. You were still building your company and we understood.”

Allegra dropped her gaze and concentrated on her pizza.

On cue, my phone buzzed. I glanced at it quickly and read the long text regarding feedback results from the test group and asking for approval on the new print ad. I didn’t have to do it. I’d asked to be notified of everything and Kate had agreed to loop me in. Pretending not to stress, I casually tucked my phone back into my purse and decided I’d sneak some work in later. I’d be able to fit it in with the time change.

I drained my wine and motioned for the check. Some things were universal. “Where should we head to? I mapped out all of the plazas we haven’t visited, the last two fountains, and highlighted some highly rated monuments from TripAdvisor.”

Mom and Allegra shared a glance. “Let’s get lost,” Allegra said.

“What do you mean lost? We have phones now and maps that talk to us block by block. We don’t have to get lost like in the old days.”

Allegra shrugged. “I guess I just want to start walking and see where we end up. It’d be nice to be surprised rather than stick to the textbook.”

“Agreed,” my mother said.